Attachment for electric fixtures



Jan. 26, 1943.

A. K. SUTHERLAND ATTACHMENT FOR ELECTRIC FIXTURES Filed Dec. 15, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 12 M I A I H -::;;:\:"P:Z fj== :r-

ig/1a za 1b 5 7 .12 14- F H i 28 20 15 I v INVENTOR' 1/ I I a Y 's o U ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 26, 1943 ATTACHMENT FOR ELECTRIC FIXTURES Alexander K. Sutherland, Sheboygan, Wis., as-

signor to Moe-Bridges Corporation, Sheboygan, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application December 13, 1940, Serial No. 369,973

Claims.

This invention relates to attachments for electric fixtures, such as lighting fixtures, and has among its objects an attachment which permits quick and easy attachment of an electric fixture to a ceiling or other wall support, and enables simple mounting and adjustment of an attachment covering, such as a canopy, for covering up the interengaging portions of the attachment and the electric fixture connections.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be best understood from the following description of exemplifications thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a lighting fixture attachment to the ceiling of a room exemplifying one form of the invention;

Fig. la is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the attachment;

Fig. lb is a vertical sectional view along line lb-Ib of Fig. 1a;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating another exemplification of the invention;

Figs. 3 to 5 are views similar to Figs. 1 to 1b illustrating another exemplification of the invention;

Fig. 6 is an elevational View of the fixture mounting rod shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the clamping collar shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 1 illustrating another exemplification of the invention; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view showing the clamping members of Fig. 8.

In attaching or mounting an electric fixture, such as a lighting fixture, on a ceiling or other wall of a room, provision must be made not only for safe mounting of the fixture in its location, but also for easy accessibility to the electric splice connection between the fixture cord and the supply cord as well as proper covering up of the unsightly elements of the attachment and the electric cord connection of the fixture to the wall outlet.

The person mounting a fixture on the ceiling has usually to stand high up on a flimsy support, such as a ladder, and the problem of mounting or removing an electric fixture in its assembled position on its ceiling support is quite troublesome.

The invention provides a simple, foolproof and cheap attachment for an electric lighting or similar fixture which permits easy and quick mounting and adjustment of the fixture in its location and the splicing of its cord connections to the wall outlet cord as well as the easy, quick and simple mounting and. adjustment of the cover member or canopy overlying the attachment elements and the cord connections in its final assembled condition.

Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplification of the invention in the form of a suspension attachment for a lighting fixture mounted on a ceiling of a room. The lighting fixture, not shown on the drawing, has an upward extension in the form of a suspension chain I0 and a cord H which are attached and connected respectively to a fixture support formed of a threaded supporting stud l2 and electric outlet leads l3 located in an outlet box l4 provided in the ceiling.

The chain In which forms a part of the upward fixture extension, is shown suspended on a cap 15 of a mounting rod l6 which is clamped by segmental gripping members in the form of clamping jaws ll held and guided on the inner tubular surfaces of a supporting sleeve member I8 extending from the supporting stud l2 and shown threadedly joined thereto. The splice connection of the fixture cord II to the outlet cord l3 as well as the unsightly elements of the attachment are covered by a cover member in the form of a canopy 20 of sheet metal which is held against the wall of the ceiling by a collar 2| which is threadedly mounted on the exterior surface of the rod cap [5.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 1b, the lower portion of the fixture supporting sleeve member [8 has an inwardly tapered conical guide surface 22 for guiding thereon the exterior surfaces of the jaw-like segmental gripping members ll into clamping engagement with ,the mounting rod extension l6 of the fixture. The jaw-like gripping members Il have interlocking projections in the form of toothed surfaces 23 shaped for interlocking engagement withinterlocking teeth formed on the exterior of the mounting rod Hi.

The facing teeth of the jaw-like gripping memhers I! and the fixture mounting rod [6 are tapered in the inward and outward direction of the motion of the mounting rod I6 in the supporting sleeve l8, and are so arranged that when the fixture supporting rod I5 and the gripping members ll are moved in inward direction relatively to the supporting sleeve [8, the segmental gripping members Il are actuated to move outwardly along the tapered inner guide surface 22 of the supporting sleeve [8 so as to break the clamping engagement between the toothed surface 23 of the gripping members and the fixture supporting rod I6, and release the latter for removal from the supporting sleeve (S. The tapered inner guide surface 22 of the supporting sleeve $8 with the facing outer guide surfaces of the gripping members ii are so shaped that when said gripping members are moved longitudinally along their guide surfaces in outward direction, the inner guide surface 22 of the supporting sleeve l8 actuates the gripping members to bring their inwardly facing interlocking teeth 23 into interlocking engagement with the teeth of the fixture mounting rod it.

The interlocking teeth formed on the fixture mounting rod i5 and the facing toothed surfaces 23 of the segmental gripping jaw member ll may be of any desired form as long as the interlocking teeth are tapered in inward as well as in outward direction in relation to the direction of the longitudinal motion of the fixture mounting rod I5 as it is moved inwardly or outwardly out of its position in the mounting sleeve l8.

In the form shown, the interlocking teeth are formed by providing the fixture mounting rod IS with a screw threaded exterior surface, and by forming the segmental gripping members I! out of two halves of a split nut member having inwardly facing threads corresponding to the external threads of the rod it: so as to assure positive clamping engagement between the fixture mounting rod l5 and the interlocking surfaces 23 of the clamping jaws ll when the latter are biased inwardly toward the rod by externally acting forces, such as the gravity forces.

As shown, the lower outer surface portions of the gripping members H are tapered and shaped for sliding movement on the lower tapered guide surface of the supporting sleeve 28 so that on pushing the exposed downwardly protruding ends 24 of the gripping jaws il in upward direction, the jaws are moved in radially outward direction and. release their threaded toothed surface portions 23 from the clamping engagement with the toothed surface of the mounting rod l6, in the way shown in Figs. 1a and lb to enable quick partial or complete withdrawal of the mounting rod Hi from its location between the jaws H. The upward motion of the clamping jaws is suitably limited as by a stop washer 25 suitably clamped between the walls of the sleeve [8.

Since the upper ends of the leads of the electric cord i l of the lighting fixture have to be connected to the outlet leads l3 within the canopy 23, it is essential to assure that the leads of cord ii cannot be caught by the teeth of the fixture supporting rod E8 or oherwise damaged by them when it is pushed upwardly into its finally assembled position between the clamping segment jaws ll of the fixture support.

In the arrangement shown, damage to the leads of cord H and catching of a cord in the teeth of the mounting rod 16 is positively prevented by surrounding the portion of the mounting rod is extending within the canopy with a flexible elastic guard member 26 which keeps the cord leads away from the toothed mounting rod !5, while permitting tools, such as pliers, or the fingers, to reach the mounting rod l6 and the lower ends 24 of the clamping jaws ll for removing the fixture from its position.

In the form shown in Fi 1, the guard member is formed of a helically wound flexible wire spring 23 having its lower end 2'! clamped around the lower end of the threaded mounting rod It at the point where it emerges from its threaded engagement with the rod cap l5. Alt rnatively, the guard member may be formed of a sleeve 28 of thin flexible rubber-like material surrounding the A J U mounting rod [5, in a way similar to the helical spring 26, the lower end of the sleeve having a small narrow opening clamped tightly to the lower portion of the mounting rod H3 at the point where it emerges from the red cap l5.

In order to mount the fixture in its place on the ceiling, the supporting sleeve IS with the gripping jaws H held therein is first mounted on the ceiling stud 12. The upper end of the mounting rod is then inserted between the lower ends of the clamped jaws I! and left clamped therein while the ends of the cord l l and the outlet leads l3 are spliced, Thereupon, the mounting rod IS with the canopy 28 supported on the collar of the rod cap [3, in the way shown by the dotted lines i5, 20, 21', is pushed upwardly between the radially displaced jaws ll until the fixture attachment is brought to its assembled position, with the upper edge of tie canopy Ell resting against the ceiling.

Upon releasing the clamping rod Hi, the outwardly acting forces exerted by the weight of the light fixture will, through the interlocking engagement between the teeth of the mounting rod l3 and the teeth of the jaws il engaged thereby, pull the clamping jaws I! in downward outward direction and force them along the tapered guide surface 22 of the supporting sleeve to their radially inward clamping position so as to firmly clamp the fixture rod l5 and the canopy 29 in their assembled full-line position shown in Fig. 1. Any small gap left between the upper edge of the canopy E) and the ceiling may be closed by turning the canopy collar 2i on the exterior threaded flange of the rod cap [5.

The simple fixture attachment described above enable-s not only simple, easy and quick mounting and adjustment of the fixture in its position on the wall without any tools, but also permits quick complete removal of the fixture or its temporary release from its assembled position for inspection or repair of the cord connections, while the fixture and its canopy 2B are suspended in the lowered dotted-line position 25. Thus, in order to temporarily lower the fixture, the canopy collar is first unscrewed to release the canopy 29 and let it slip down the chain it. Thereupon, the cord guard 28 is pushed downwardly while the lower protruding ends 24 of the clamping jaws ll, together with the mounting rod held between them, are pushed inwardly wi hin the mounting sleeve !8 so as to spread the jaws i! apart and release the clamping rod :6 which, thereupon, may be either entirely withdrawn for complete removal of the fixture, or merely left suspended with its upper end clamped between the clamping jaws in their downward clamping position. The fixture may be quickly restored to its assembled position by merely puslr'ng the clamping rod ill to its upward position, the canopy 29 being first placed in its position on the cap 25 by its threaded collar 2|.

A fixture provided with a fixture support arranged in the way described above may be thus readily raised and lowered at will to any convenient position, without any tools or implements, for inspection or repair and all parts may be easily and quickly adjusted in their proper positions with great ease.

In Figs. 3 to 7 is shown another exemplification of the invention. On a ceiling stud I2 is mounted a supporting sleeve i-EA which guides on its inner surface two clamping jaws ll, two upwardly bent stop lugs 32' of the sleeve limiting the upward motion of the jaws i1. Between the jaws l! is held clamped a mounting rod extension l 6A having a cap ISA on which is suspended a chain 1 of a lighting fixture, not shown in the drawings.

The splice connection of the fixture cord H to the outlet cord l3 as well as the unsightly attachment elements are covered by a cover member in the form of a canopy 20A which is held in its location against the ceiling by a clamping collar 21A which has inwardly projecting bayonet lugs 32 forming helical solts engaging bayonet projections 33A provided on the periphery of the cap so that a turn of the clamping collar 2|A forces the upper edge of the canopy 26A against the ceiling.

As illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5, the clamping jaws ll form halves of the split nut having inner threaded surface portions l9 engaging the threaded surface of the mounting rod [6A so as to assure positive clamping engagement between the extension rod and the clamping jaws I! when the jaws are pressed inwardly toward the rod by the downward forces of the weight of the fixture. The outer surfaces of the jaw members ll are tapered and shaped for sliding movement on the lower tapered end of the supporting sleeve 18A, so that on pushing the threaded rod extension ISA in upward direction, the jaws Il may spread apart and break the clamping engagement of their threaded surfaces of the clamping rod till the rod has been brought to its innermost position in which it holds the canopy 231A against the ceiling.

In order to mount the fixture, the supporting sleeve ldA is mounted on the ceiling stud l2 and the end of the mounting rod IGA is pushed in between the clamping jaws I! so as to retain it in a downward position giving access to the ends of the cords II and I3 and permitting splicing of the exposed cord ends.

Thereupon, the mounting cap ISA and its rod 16A are pushed upwardly between the clamping jaws I! until the upper edge of the canopy 20A has been brought against the ceiling. Upon releasing the clamping cap I A, the downward forces acting on the clamping rod and the clamping jaws I 7 will force the clamping jaws I! to their radially inward clamping position between the tapered wall of the guide sleeve I8A so as to z firmly clamp the fixture and the canopy MA in their properly assembled position. Any small gap left between the edge of the canopy and the ceiling may be closed by a twist of the canopy mounting collar MA on its bayonet engagement with the cap ISA.

The fixture attachment described above makes possible easy release of the coupling engagement between the clamping jaws l1 and the clamping rod ICiA of the lighting fixture so as to permit inspection of, or changes in, the cord con nections. This may be done in the way described in connection with Figs. 1 to 1b, by first releasing the canopy 26A and then pushing with the fingers the downwardly protruding end portions IQ of the clamping jaws H in upward direction along their tapered guide surfaces so as to release the clamping rod i5A and permit is complete withdrawal or lowering to a downward position.

Alternatively, the clamping rod ISA may be provided with a loosely mounted release sleeve 38 having a downwardly projecting lifting finger 39. The release sleeve 38 is so arranged inner surfaces with the .3

that when it is pushed upwardly by the finger 39 while a lifting force is applied to the mounting cap [5A, the sleeve 38 pushes the lock jaws I! in outward and. upward direction along the tapered guide surface of the supporting sleeve ISA so as to break the clamping engagement of the clamping-jaws IT with the mounting rod Ma and permit lowering or withdrawal of the clamping screw from its position between the clamping laws ll.

Depending on the applications, the mounting rod ISA may be made suiiioiently long to permit splicing of the cord ends while-the canopy 29A is mounted in its position on the mounting cap I5, in which case the mounting collar ZiA may be omitted, and final adjustment of the canopy against the ceiling secured by a turn of the mounting cap 21A and its threaded rod [6A on the threads of the clamped split nut jaw members H.

In Figs. 8 and 9 is shown another exemplification of the invention. On a ceiling stud I2 is mounted a supporting sleeve ti which houses and guides in its lowered tapered end portion two movably positioned split nut clamping jaws 42 which are limited in their motion by a stop ring 43 held clamped within the sleeve ti. The clamping jaws d2 have threaded inner portions d3 shaped for clamping engagement with the threaded surface of a fixture mounting rod 45 extending from a swivel socket member 45 having a swivel socket seat 41 on which is suspended a swivel ball 48 of a lighting fixture extension 49.

ihe end of a fixture cord 52! extending through a hollow channel in the fixture extension 49 and the swivel ball 48 is suitably spliced to the end of the outlet cord i3 extending from the ceiling. A canopy 52 is clamped against the ceiling by a collar which is held by a bayonet connection on bayonet projections 55 of the swivel socket member As shown in Fig. 9, the mounting rod 45 may have a hollow passage through which the end of the fixture cord 52; may be led by way of the openings fi l in the supporting sleeve to the point of its splice connection to the ouetlet cord I3.

The clamping rod may be provided with a loosely mounted release sleeve having a lifting finger 5? projecting through a hole in the canopy 52. The lower ends of the clamping jaws 42 may be provided with inner upper tapered surfaces 43 shaped for engagement with the bottom surface of the tapered extension 59 of the stop ring 62, so that on pushing the clamping jaws in upward direction they are spread radially apart to break their clamping engagement with the mounting rod t5. the bottom ends of the clamping jaws may be provided with tapered surfaces for engagement with a correspondingly tapered end surface of the release sleeve 58 so that on pushing the release sleeves 56 in upward direction, its tapered upper surface 8i spreads apart the clamping jaws 42 to break their clamping engagement with the clamping rod. With this arrangement, upon lifting of the release ring 56, its tapered portion 6| spreads apart the tapered lower ends of the lock jaws 52 while their upper tapered surfaces 58 are spread apart by the tapered extension 49 of the lock ring 52 so as to break their clamping engagement with the clamping rod 45 and assure instantaneous release of the clamping rod.

The fixture mounting supports of Figs. 3 and 8 may likewise be provided with cord guards, such a 26 to 23 described in connection with Figs. 1

In addition,

and 2, in order to assure that an electric cord lead is not caught and damaged by the teeth of the mountin red when it is pushed inward in the jaws.

Instead of using internally threaded split nut clamping jaws for quickly breaking or automatically establishing the clamping engagement with threaded rods, other types of easily releasable and automatically acting clamping arrangements may be used. Furth rmore, attachments of the type described herein may be utdized with great advantage in connection with other types of electric fixtures which have to be mounted on a wall or similar place.

The term teeth as and claims to describe tions on the exterior of the mounting rod and the facing surfaces of the gripping members, is intended to be descriptiv of the projections used in the specification the interlocking projecformed by the individual screw threads, such as r the threads on the moun lg rod 13 or any other form of inteiiockin' prolections operating in a manner analogous to projections formed by the threaded surfaces of the mounting rod and the facing surfaces or the gripping; r fnber H.

The principles cf the invenii explained in connection with specific exe cations thereof will suggest to those skilled in the art many other applications and modifications of the It is accordingly desired that the appended claims be construed broadly, and that they shall not be limited to the specific ails shown and described in connection vith exemplifications thereof.

Iclairn:

1. In an arrangement for attaching an electric fixture to a wall portion having exposed electric outlet leads, an elongated rod-like fixture extension having teeth on its external surface, and an electric fixture cord extending along said fixture extension; a hollow fixture support extending from said wall portion having an open outward end and interior guide surface portions surrounding said fixture extension; said interior guide surface portions being tapered. interiorly in the direction toward the open end of said support; means for detachably and adjustably securing said fixture extension within said hollow support comprising a plurality of segmental gripping members biased to m ve along Said guide surface portions of said support toward its open end and having teeth shaped to interloclringly engage the teeth of said extension and arranged so that said gripping members can pushed inwardly along said guide surface portions for releasing their interlocking engagement with said extension; ti e teeth of said extension and the facing teeth of said gripping members being tapered in the directions of the inward and outward motion of said extension within said support; an enclosure carried by said fixture extension for enclosing the space in front of said mounting wall portion and covering the interengaging portions of said fixture extension, said fixture support and the connections between said fixture cord and said outlet leads; and means including a yieldable guard member interposed between the external extension surface and said electric cord for preventing said cord from reaching said external extension surface; said guard member being elastically flexible so that it may be readily displaced by an external force from its position between the cord and said external extension surface while maintaining its normal position in absence of external displacing forces.

2. In an arrangement for attaching an electric fixture to a wall portion having exposed electric outlet leads, an elongated rod-like fixture extension having teeth on its external surface, and an electric fixture cord extending along said fixture extension; a hollow fixture support extending from said wall portion having an open outward end and interior guide surface portions surrounding said fixture extension; said interior guide surface portions being tapered interiorly in the direction toward the open end of said support; means for detachably and adjustably securing said fixture extension within said hollow support comprising a plurality of segmental gripping members biased to move along said guide surface portions of said support toward its open end and having teeth shaped to interlockingly engage the teeth of said extension and arranged so that said gripping members can be pushed inwardly along said guide surface portions for releasing their interlockin engagement with said extension; the teeth of said extension and the facing teeth of said gripping members being tapered in the directions of the inward and outward motion of said extension within said support; an enclosure carried by said fixture extension for enclosing the space in front of said mounting wall portion and cove 'ing the interengaging portions of said fixture extension, said fixture support and the connections between said fixture cord and said outlet leads; and a helical guard member interposed between the external extension surface and said electric cord for preventin said cord from reaching said external extension surface; said guard member being elastically flexible so that it may be readily displaced by an external force from its position between the cord and said external extension surface w vile maintaining its normal position in absence of external displacing forces.

3. In arrangement for attaching an electric fixture to a wall portion having exposed electric outlet leads, an elongated rod-like fixture extensxln having teeoh on its external surface, and an electric fixture cord extending along said fixture extension; a hollow fixture support extending from said wall portion having an open outward end interior surface portions surrounding said fixture extension; said interior guide Slll ce portions being tapered interiorly in the dii ection toward the open end of said supn us for detachably and adjustably seture extension within hollow lpris- .g a plurality of segmental gripping l biased move along said guide surface portions of said support toward its open end and having teet l shaped to interlockingly enthe teeth of said extension and arranged so that said grip ing members can be pushed inwar y alon said guide surface portions for reg their interlocking engagement with said extension; the teeth or said extension and the facing teeth of said gripping members being tapered in the directions of the inward and outward motion of so id extension within said support; an enclosure carried by said fixture extens on for enclosing the space in front of said mounting port in and covering the interportions of said fixture extension, said fixture support and the connections between said fixture cord and said outlet leads; and a tubular guard member interposed between the external extension surface and said electric cord for preventing said cord from reaching said external extension surface; said guard member being elastically flexible so that it may be readily displaced by an external force from its position between the cord and external extension surface while maintaining its normal position in absence of exte nal dis lacing forces.

4. In an arrangement for attaching an electric fixture to a wall portion having exposed electrio outlet leads, a elongated rod-like fixture extension having teeth on its external surface; a hollow fixture support extending from said wall portion having an open outward end and interior guide surface portions surrounding said fixture extension; said interior guide surface portions being tapered interiorly in the direction toward the open end of said support; means for detachably and adjustably securing said fixture extension within said hollow support comprising a plurality of segmental gripping members biased to move along said guide surface portions of said support toward its open end and having teeth shaped to interlockingly engage the teeth of said extension and arranged so that said gripping members can be pushed inwardly along said guide surface portions for releasing their interlocking engagement with said extension; the teeth of said extension and the facing teeth of said gripping members being tapered in the directions of the inward and outward motion of said extension within said support; and an enclosure carried by said fixture extension for enclosing the space in front of said mounting wall portion and covering the interengaging portions of said fixture extension, said fixture support and the connections between said fixture cord and said outlet leads; the portion of said fixture extension which is clamped between said gripping members in the assembled position of said fixture extension and the adjacent portion of said extension exposed beyond the outward ends of said gripping members being of substantially the same lateral dimensions to permit further inward movements of said extension into the space between said gripping members.

5. In an arrangement for attaching an electric fixture to a wall portion having exposed electric outlet leads, an elongated rod-like fixture extension having teeth on its external SUILQVCG; a hollow fixture support extending from said wa l portion having an open outward end and interior guide surface portions surrounding said fixture extension; said interior guide surface portions being tapered intericrly in the direction toward the open end of said support; means for detachably and adiustably securing said fixture extension within said hollow support comprising a plurality of segmental gripping members biased to move along said guide surface portions of said support toward its open end and having teeth shaped to interlockingly engage the teeth of said extension and arranged so that said gripping members can be pushed inwardly along said guide surface portions for releasing their interlocking engagement with said extension; the teeth of said extension and the facing teeth of said gripping members being tapered in the directions of the inward and outward motion of extension within said support; and an enclosure carried by said fixture extension for enclosing the space in front of said mounting wall portion and covering the interengaging portions of said fixture extension, said fixture support and the connections between said fixture cord and said outlet leads; the portion of said fixture extension which is clamped between said gripping memhere in the assembled position of said fixture extension and the adjacent portion of said extension exposed beyond the outward ends of said gripping members being of substantially the same lateral dimensions to permit further inward movements of said extension into the space between said gripping members; said gripping members having projections extending outwardly sufficiently far beyond the outward end of said support for enabling pushing of said gripping members inwardly to a position in which they release said fixture extension.

ALEXANDER K. SUTHERLAND. 

